Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-03-10
The Millennial Dawn.

This volume, in common with all the
writings of the Second Adventists, is in
troduced by copious quotations of Scrip
ture bearing mole or less directly on the
subject i'm hand. This is commendable,
as it shows great industry in collecting
biblical light. Led by these quotations,
the discussion takes an unlimited range,
and we can only notice some strategic
points. The whole idea OF Christ's per-
sonal reign on the earth is merely a re-
yampinr of the Jewish idea of the Mes
siah's kingdom. Acts LIST, 9th. They
looked for Messiah who could be tenn
poral prince. In disposing ct the ques-
ton there He settled it for all time. Not
withstanding this settlement, the idea
that the head of the church should be a
temporal prince has haunted ambitious
sectaries, and in one form or another is
responsible for much of the human blood
that has drenched our earth.
1t has been said that the book lacks
clearnesS. This is not said unkindly.
Uncertainty is the controlling element in
the whole case which consists in an at
tempt TO pry into that which God has
wisely concealed. Acts IL, Matt. XXXiv
&c.
The uncertainty is farther increased by
the doubtful character of human history,
and from the fact that all expositors of
prophecy ride hobbies. Each man sets
out with certain theory, and warps the
facts to suit it.
1t is true that time runs in cycles, and
that history repeats itself; but the cycles
do not abut against each other. When
the one begins to conclude and determine,
its successor begins by taking up some
attainment and carrying it forward, and
when all the attainments of cycle have
been placed insnew connections md high
er surroundings, the old cycle has passed
away ana the new one is set up. All OF
Gods process runs without iiarring Or
noise. His thermometer keeps accurate
time. but it does not strike the hours.
and, if it did. theorists wonld not listen.
1t has been said that each new cycle car
ries forward the attachments of its prede
cessor. These include the attainments in
evil as well as in good, SD that the con-
tlict between Ormuzd and Ahl imam, be-
tween Sight and Darkness, between Good
and Evil, goes on to the end.
But as the cycles change much waste
matter is thrown away. Now in the
close of the present cycle we have an
eeclesiasticism, oyergrOwn, Oyerbearing,
Chrstless, and hollow, from which the
world turns away. Our political economy
has worn out and the political parties
based on it have gone together to the
tomb of the Capulets. Christianity is the
motive power in all real progress, and
its spring is in a spirit ofprofound inves-
tigation into the foundations of beliefs.
A fearful amount of dead wood is the re-
suit.
Another cause of difficulty is the dispo-
sstlon of men to lay plans for God. and
reject all His work that is not according
to their plans. They forget that His
ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts.
He does His will. and accordingly it is
always the unexpected that happens
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter. The dawn of the perfect day
was i'm the Garden of Eden. The objec-
tive point of all Gods work in respect to
our world is, that the kingdoms of this
world shall become the Kingdoms of our
Lord, even of his Christ. To this point
he works up by steps. That is evolution,
and that results from revolution. He
overturns, overturns, Overturns, until he
shall come whose right it is to rule. And
him the heavens have received until the
time OF the restitution of all things, when
the earth and all the things thata there
in being burnt up with fire. shall be re-
turned to that aeriform state out of which
they arose at the first, to be reOrganiZed
into that new heaven and new earth in
which dwelleth righteousness. 1t is
enough for us TO know that he that shall
come will come and will not tarry, and
that blessed is that servant whom his
Lord, when he cometh, shall find watch
ing. THOMAS CALLAHAN.